That's becoming a common diary title here!
DeKalb county representin!
Ok so I got to the DeKalk County Complex about 11:45 am. I had to drive around about 10 minutes for parking, there were ALOT of cars. So I got in the door and it was NOT hectic, it was very orderly, so I was thinking I got here at a good time, it's not as crowded as I thought. Then I started to walk towards the end of the line, and I walked, and I walked, and I walked....
By this time my jaw had dropped, the line while orderly was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO long. After walking down a long hall way that seemed to never end we stopped and tried to get into line but one of the staff said, "No, that is not the end of the line we have some people waiting here to get into line!" So after we let those people get into line we were motioned to take a left into what I thought was a short hallway, but was a huge, huge space where the line extended to the end of that space where the line wrapped around. To give you an idea of this space, a guy behind me said the building was (one of) the original Home Depot building. I guestimated that there were about 300 people in line (total). The guy behind me guessed 500. I don't know the actual number, IT WAS ALOT OF PEOPLE!
The staff was very helpful and efficient which allowed the line to move quickly. It took me a little over 45 minutes (not counting the search for parking).
The line was AT LEAST 90% African American. I think everyone, like myself, were in awe at the number of people and even though it was a long line everyone was in a good mood. I have to tell you, I was overwhelmed. While I have been a Democrat all my life and voted in every Presidential election since I was 18, THIS IS SPECIAL! I've never seen lines like this for another Presidential election and it's 19 days before the election day! Of course, I am in agreement with most of Obama's policy (i.e. he's a Democrat), but the sense of hope, pride, inspiration, and even shock that comes from being days away from the first African-American President-elect is....it's indescribable. You can see it in many of the faces I saw in line today, you can hear it in their voices.
I am happy today. I cast my vote for Barack Obama to be President of the United States.